Cablegate: Demonstration Near the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka,

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

130106Z Dec 05

UNCLAS DHAKA 006071

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR DSERCC
DEPT FOR DS/IP/SA
DEPT FOR DS/DSS/ITA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC
SUBJECT: Demonstration near the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka,
Bangladesh.

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PROTECT ACCORDINGLY

1. (SBU) Summary. A large pro-BNP (Bangladeshi ruling
party) demonstration occurred in the immediate vicinity
of the Embassy on December 12, 2005. Post had received
no prior notice of the demonstration although police
appeared to know well in advance. The demonstration
lasted for approximately two and a half hours and with
no reports of violence. End Summary.

2. (SBU) On December 12, 2005 the Regional Security
Office (RSO) was notified that a procession of
approximately 150 demonstrators were seen marching
along Pragati Sharani, the street passing between the
Chancery compound and the GSO compound, in the
direction of the Embassy. Surveillance Detection
assets observed the procession and immediately began
reporting through their channels.

3. (SBU) The procession stopped near a police station
on the east side of the intersection through which all
Embassy traffic between the two compounds passes. There
is a local BNP office in this vicinity. The SD team
monitored the event and reported that the demonstration
swelled from an initial 150 demonstrators to nearly
2500 before the group broke.

4. (SBU) Although there had been a small announcement
in local newspapers announcing numerous rallies and
demonstrations across the country, the RSO had received
no prior notice that one location was to be in the
immediate vicinity of the Embassy.

5. (SBU) To complicate matters, the demonstration began
at 1630 when the Embassy was closing for the day and
employees would be passing through the intersection on
the way to their homes. In light of recent attacks by
suicide bombers in crowds, the RSO notified all Embassy
employees by email and made an announcement from Post
One advising employees to avoid the intersection if
possible and all other public gatherings.

6. (SBU) RSO is addressing the issue of sharing
information with the local police.

7. (U) POC is Regional Security Office Dhaka, 8802-885-
5500 X2288.

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